You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

mizmantha Author

Level 1

28 points

Safari won't open any links and then freezes/crashes

HELP! The Safari on my fairly new iphone 6s has gone haywire. Safari opens fine, and if you type in a direct URL, it will go to the website just fine. However, if i attempt to search any subject it will pull up the pages of websites, but will not allow me to connect to any of the links and when I select a link it then freezes and crashes safari. Additionally, if i try to open any weblink imbedded in an email, it again freezes and crashes both mail AND Safari. SO FUN!

And just to test general connectivity and function, i downloaded Google Chrome to see if I can search and connect there, and I can. The search works fine, pulls up the pages, and strangely, I can't access the pages direct, but it will allow me to open the page in another tab. I feel like this should be a clue for someone smarter than I. 😝

I have been tinkering for about an hour with it and I am at a loss.

Things I have tried:

1. Resetting the phone - both just by powering off and a hard reset (Power + Home)

2. Turning off Safari Suggestions (and browser suggestions) - this was a fix that I found for a bug that seemed similar from earlier this year.

3. Changing the search engine from Google to Yahoo and back, nothing.

4. Private Browsing (again a "fix" I found on the interwebs...)

5. Downloading and upgrading my iOS to 9.3. Still nothing.

6. Banging my head on my computer and cursing very loudly at the phone.

PLEASE, if you have any suggestions, i am all ears... I am going bananas and can't let it go.

THANK YOU!!!

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3, Prob started while on 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 22, 2016 3:35 PM

Top-ranking reply

GALACTICPROTON

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Apr 11, 2017 1:09 PM

First thing a human should do after receiving an iPhone or iPad is download Google Chrome then download Google Maps then download Gmail and possibly download Google+ if you have a business.

Google Chrome is the best web browser in the world plain and simple. Sure you could use Safari or Firefox or Opera or IE or Egde But why waste time when you have a gem available to you with the push of a couple buttons.

Safari is a joke made by Apple so they can say they have a browser on their devices when you purchase them.

Firefox is a nonprofit group that has no money

Anything made by Microsoft is worse then Apple

Opera is so old but kinda funny in my opinion. I would actually recommend Opera just because most people have never heard of it and it's only used by about 1% of the worlds devices.

Put it this way, I bet you've seen a google car driving around at some point in your life. I have seen quite a few of them loaded up with cameras and gadgets. What's my point? Google has a lot of money and they usually spend it in the right places like having Chrome up to date with all coding and new stuff.

I think Safari is a disgusting browser. When I look at the news widget on my iPhone and click on a story to read it opens a new window everytime which is a pain in the azz. I have to close a bizzillion windows weekly just from reading some news articles. Great work Safari team.

Any unbiased web developer would most likely recommend using Chrome.

View in context

325 replies

Mar 27, 2016 4:49 AM in response to able_ape

Ok, and what about just before the upgrade to 9.3? I'm just trying to figure out what it may be. Do you have any other google apps that have updated (maybe a shot in the dark) just before the 9.3 upgrade? Google Maps has defo done the trick for me but maybe Gmail or Chrome?

Mar 27, 2016 4:52 AM in response to Brushton

Ah sorry! lol

able_ape

Level 1

15 points

Mar 27, 2016 4:52 AM in response to adamb0703

Didn't have Gmail installed. Only installed Chrome later as workaround.

Mar 27, 2016 5:00 AM in response to Tommacgr

JavaScript disabling for Safari didn't help for my iPhone 6, still can not open links in e-mail.

erdavran

Level 1

4 points

Mar 27, 2016 5:08 AM in response to Tommacgr

I had same problem. after new IOS upgrading i couldnt open links on google. when i turn off jawa script it works.)))) thank you..

Mar 27, 2016 5:15 AM in response to karenfromeesti

Nope, nevermind. Seems that only option is to use Chrome. When holding finger on the link you get the option to open it in new tab.

Mar 27, 2016 5:19 AM in response to mizmantha

Man this is frustrating, I found out that if you request desktop site after doing google search then the links are working again but it's not ideal because you have to request desktop site after every single google search, and it still doesn't fixes the problem with mail links not opening but at least it's better than disabling Java, that messes up half of the sites I visit daily.

Brushton

Level 1

4 points

Mar 27, 2016 5:24 AM in response to adamb0703

It's worked!!!!!! As I said had a bit of trouble with he reset and backup but I used 23rd March backup and also deleted Google Maps like you said and its back to normal. It feels great to have sorted it lets hope Apple can now sort it for everyone else.. Thanks and no worries about gender...lol x

Mar 27, 2016 5:27 AM in response to Brushton

Excellent! I have taken another back up now so its safe. I'm tempted to download google maps again and just see what happens!

Brushton

Level 1

4 points

Mar 27, 2016 5:50 AM in response to adamb0703

Good idea about the backup. Not too sure about Google Maps though...let us know how you get on if you decide to reinstall it. Between us we've done well..x

Mar 27, 2016 6:10 AM in response to mizmantha

I don't want to make a reset. I don't want to uninstall Google Maps. I only want Apple FIX that HUGE bug!!

Mar 27, 2016 6:13 AM in response to Brushton

I've reinstalled google maps now and everything is still working. So I think it's fine Brushton! Go for it. But just take that back up first in case! I think we've done really well 🙂 thanks! And sorry for calling you "he"!!!'

rolooo

Level 1

4 points

Mar 27, 2016 7:14 AM in response to mizmantha

It is a shame from Apple, that they are never able to bring out a software update that is flawlessly working. From now on I will never update again until like the 3rd update has been released to a new software.

I have faced this morning the same issue, as discussed in the forum - deleted everything and restored my iPhone 6 with 9.3 ios and nothing works still. The only thing that the restore has done is that now half of my applications are missing and my phone is a total mess.

Apple you are just about to loose another ex-loyal customer. Since Tim Cook's management Apple became a follower with no real innovation, just copying the competitors and doing bits and pieces in every product launch. Shame on you Apple...

Mar 27, 2016 7:34 AM in response to sjames0916

THIS WORKED FOR ME! This can be a pain in the ***, but I don't have time for Apple to fix it, as who knows how long that will take.

I took the suggestions from some people in this discussion, so here's what I did:

1. Saved any pics/videos to Google drive from 3/24/16 - 3/27/16

2. Double checked my iCloud backups ( 3/23/16 and 3/25/16 were the latest)

3. Wiped my phone. "Erase all contents and settings"

4. Setup as a new iPhone to test the safari links in iMessages (it worked!)

5. Erased all contents and settings again, restored my iCloud backup from 3/23/16 (wanted to be on the safe side)

7. Tested in iMessage, WhatsApp, etc and the links work when clicked!

So, while all this may sound like a pain, it only took about 15-20 minutes. If you have time, try it. If you want to wait for Apple to apply a fix, be my guest.

Mar 27, 2016 7:35 AM in response to divniy

Exactly the same...

iPhone 5s on ios 9.2.1

can't select links through google search on safari - just times out/ freezes/ does nothing

can't select links through emails - same as above!

This is only a problem I've noticed within the last few hours. I've reset my phone and it's not fixed. I don't even have the option to upgrade to ios 9.3.

I really don't want to have to go through the process of resetting and updating from backups, I don't feel I should have to! What's happened?

Safari won't open any links and then freezes/crashes